Hong Junpyo Announces Severance from Party on Communication Channel
Kwon Youngse Criticizes, "He Should Not Act Like This Now"
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo, who declared his retirement from politics and left the People Power Party, stated that he has no intention of rejoining the party.
On May 14, Hong posted on "Dream of Youth," his communication channel with supporters, saying, "I cannot help but sever ties with a party that has been impeached twice." He continued, "I rebuilt the party once, but I could not handle it the second time, so I left. I knew I would be criticized just for leaving, so I went as far as to retire from politics." He added, "At the age of 70, would I act out of emotion? I left because it is a group that cannot possibly be reformed." He went on to say, "Regardless of who comes to power, I hope my country becomes a stable nation where the left and right can coexist," and added, "I also hope that true conservatives will newly emerge in this land."
After retiring from politics and moving to Hawaii, USA, former Mayor Hong has even received love calls from Lee Jae Myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, and Lee Jun Seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party. Recently, each camp has also engaged in a fierce battle to recruit personnel from former Mayor Hong's presidential campaign team. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
After retiring from politics and moving to Hawaii, USA, former Mayor Hong has continued to receive overtures from Lee Jae Myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, and Lee Jun Seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party. Recently, each camp has engaged in a fierce competition to recruit personnel from former Mayor Hong's presidential campaign team. Amid this, Hong's supporter groups?"People Who Were With Hong Junpyo" (including Hongsamo, Hongsarang, Gukmintonghap Jjinhong, and the Hong Junpyo Campaign SNS Team)?announced on May 13, "The People Power Party we belonged to is not the conservatism we believed in," and declared their support for candidate Lee Jae Myung.
In response to former Mayor Hong's statement about breaking ties with the party, Kwon Youngse, a five-term pro-Yoon lawmaker, targeted former Mayor Hong on social media, saying, "This person has twice challenged the presidency, won two metropolitan government head elections, and been elected to the National Assembly multiple times, but now he should not behave like this." He added, "'Innate character' seems unavoidable." He stepped down from the emergency committee chairman position after the forced replacement of presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo failed. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Meanwhile, in response to former Mayor Hong's remarks about severing ties with the party, Kwon Youngse, a five-term pro-Yoon lawmaker, targeted Hong on social media, stating, "This is someone who has twice run for president, won two metropolitan government head elections, and been elected to the National Assembly multiple times. He should not act like this now." He added, "'Innate character' seems unavoidable." Kwon stepped down from the emergency committee chairman position after the forced replacement of presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo failed.
Not only Kwon, but also members of the party's non-mainstream faction called on Hong to dissuade his associates from supporting Lee Jae Myung. Ahn Cheolsoo, who also advanced to the second round of the primary, posted on social media the previous day, "As a junior, I say this out of concern, wondering if your feelings may have changed after retiring from politics. You must never join hands with candidate Lee."
Ahn continued, "Recently, there have been talks of a shift in your political stance ahead of the presidential election. Some of your supporters are backing candidate Lee, and some of your close associates are joining Lee Jae Myung's camp. You must firmly block such moves as well."
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